Catholic Education, Diocese of Cairns

Queensland, Australia

(07) 4050 9700
  • Home
  • About
    • Catholic Education in the Cairns Diocese
    • The Catholic School Difference
    • History
    • Bishop’s Message
    • Executive Director’s Welcome
    • Reconciliation
    • Vision, Logo and Motto
    • Strategic Directions
    • Church Structure and Governance
    • Catholic Education Services
    • Funding
    • Policies, Directives and Guidelines
    • Modern Slavery Statement
    • Conduct, Complaints & Grievances
    • Safeguarding Children
    • Links
  • Our Schools
    • Search Catholic Schools in the Cairns Region
    • Newman Catholic College
    • Outside School Hours Care
    • 2021 School Annual Reports
  • Enrolling
    • Mythbusting FAQs
    • Who can Enrol?
    • Apply to Enrol
    • Fees and Discounts
    • Starting Prep
    • Early Learning & Care
  • Your Education
    • Religious Education
    • Curriculum
    • Contemporary Learning
    • Assessment and Reporting
    • Languages
    • Vocational Education & Training (VET)
    • Diverse Learners
      • Enrolment Support and Transitions
      • Students with Disability – Education Adjustment Program
      • Planning for Students
      • Specialist & Support Services
        • Cairns Catholic and Independent Schools Therapy (ACCIST)
      • Therapy and Disability Awareness
      • Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD)
      • Gifted and Talented
      • English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D)
    • International Education
    • First Nations Peoples
    • Resource Centre
    • Continuity of Learning
  • Our School Communities
    • School Boards and P&F Executives
      • Constitutions
      • Formation Readings
      • The modern Catholic school
      • Formation Videos
      • Code of Ethics
      • Templates
      • Grants
      • Prayers for Meetings
    • Information for Parents
      • Term Dates and Pupil-Free Days
      • Scholarships and Bursaries
      • School Transport Assistance
      • Student Care Insurance
    • The Reading Room
      • Raise Magazine
      • Links to best practice in parent engagement
      • Student Health and Wellbeing
        • A modern Catholic guide to the mass media
      • Ideas for the modern Catholic school
      • Inclusive Education
    • Parent Engagement
      • Parent Involvement at School
      • School boards and P&Fs
      • Parent engagement in student learning at home
      • Getting ready for Prep
      • Volunteer Training
    • Catholic Faith Perspectives
      • The modern Catholic school and religious education
      • Information for non-Catholics
      • Reflections on Faith and the Catholic School
        • Readings and commentary
        • Prayers and Reflections
          • Prayers and Reflections 2021
          • Prayers and Reflections 2020
        • Pope Francis
    • Education Updates
  • Careers
  • News & Events
    • Media & Communications
    • Critical Incidents & School Closures
    • Coronavirus COVID-19
      • Coronavirus COVID-19 Archived Updates and Advices
      • Coronavirus COVID-19 Resources
    • Raise Magazine
    • Latest News
    • Catholic Education Week
  • Contact Us
    • Contact Details
    • How to make a complaint
Home > Latest News > Holy Cross Students Ask…What If?
post

Holy Cross Students Ask…What If?

10/11/2020 By snutt

In the land of lollies, what would your clothes be? What if hair was made with feathers and paper? What if an elephant had butterfly wings? What if you fell into a magical mirror and got stuck?  

These are just some of the clever and creative ideas pondered by students at Holy Cross School, Trinity Park this term as part of an inventive and interactive writing stimulus activity. 

The school’s Teacher Librarian Jo Neil and Leader of Teaching and Learning Deb Scarborough spent two days planning and constructing a trail of colourful stations around the library for students to explore on the first day of Term 4.  

A tent, mirrored ladder, torches, pictures and large cardboard boxes were just some of many props used to trigger students’ creative ideas. 

“Kids sometimes struggle with idea generation when they’re writing, so we wanted to create a writing stimulus trail for the kids so they can generate ideas back in the classroom, about whatever they want to write about,” Jo said. 

“For some children, writing is not exciting. So we are trying to make it exciting, so they desperately want to go back and write.” 

One of the stations set up in the library at Holy Cross School, Trinity Park

Teachers led their classes through the trail throughout the day, often linking up with another class so younger students could be guided by older children. 

Deb said it was important for students to take part in the activity together so they could stimulate conversation and ideas. 

“We really wanted to go multi-sensory, so students are using their eyes, using what they hear, hopping down on the ground so they’re getting a different perspective of what they’re doing,” she said. 

“Each part can trigger something different for a different child. They’re able to see something and then go on a trail of thought. It’s not something they can just use from today; they will be able to come back and use the images and stimulus through the term.” 


Holy Cross School’s Leader of Teaching and Learning Deb Scarborough talks to eager students about one of the stations.

Holy Cross School Principal Sarah Hamilton said the ultimate purpose of day was to promote imagination. 

“Our hope is that by the time every student has been through the library, that they will return to the classroom and the teachers can take the conversations in whatever direction is appropriate to whatever they are doing in the classroom,” she said. 

“Both Jo and Deb are an absolute inspiration, they’re brilliant. We’re very lucky to have them here.” 

You can learn more about Holy Cross School, Trinity Park here.

Back

Filed Under: Latest News

Latest News

  • Principal Profile: Narelle Hunt, Mount St Bernard College, Herberton
  • Future-Proofing Teaching in the Far North 
  • Stage Two of State-of-the-Art Catholic College Underway
  • Staff Spotlight: Shana Backshall on Changing Careers
  • CES Farewells Lifelong Contributor
  • Principal Profile: Ruth Mallon, Mother of Good Counsel School, North Cairns
  • Novel Idea: Students Share Love of Books
  • Staff Spotlight: Shannon Grantley, Highly Accomplished Teacher
  • Principal Profile: Glen Seivers, St Augustine’s College, Parramatta Park
  • Official Opening of Cairns’ Newest Catholic College
Policies Safeguarding Children Conduct, Complaints & Grievances

Enrolling

  • The Catholic School Difference
  • Our Schools
  • Search Catholic Schools in the Cairns Region
  • Who can Enrol?
  • Apply to Enrol
  • Fees and Discounts
  • Scholarships and Bursaries

For Parents

  • Term Dates and Pupil-Free Days
  • Parent Engagement
  • School Boards and P&F Executives
  • The Reading Room
  • Critical Incidents & School Closures
  • School Transport Assistance
  • Student Care Insurance
  • Federation of Parents & Friends Associations
  • Cairns Diocesan P&F Council

Quick Links

  • Links
  • Resource Centre

Staff Links

  • Staff Portal
  • Staff Email
  • School CMS
  • Help Desk
NCSS
  • Aboriginal Flag
  • Torres Strait flag
  • We acknowledge the First Nations peoples of Australia, the traditional custodians of the land, seas, skies and waterways on which we reside, work, travel and meet. We pay our respect to First Nations elders past, present, and emerging, and support the Uluru Statement From The Heart. We acknowledge that the land, seas, skies and waterways of Australia were, are and always will be, that of the First Nations peoples.

Copyright © 2023 Catholic Education, Diocese of Cairns | Log in | Copyright | Privacy | Web Disclaimer | Conditions of Use

Join Us!

(07) 4050 9700